Page 26 of Kent's Watch
“Speaking of what?” Kent asked as they both put their dogs in the truck. Kent had to lift Tate to get him inside. Rita didn’t say anything as they settled in their seats.
“I’m going to have to replenish my protein bars. I packed the last ones in my bag before leaving the house, and I ate the last one in my bag on my way to the hospital.”
“Ah, do you want to stop on the way home?”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all, but what do we do with the dogs?”
“Because people know me around here, if Zeke has his vest on, they won’t say anything. They know I train rescue dogs. Most people look at them and see a service dog. I’m not telling you what to do, but I think you should do that with Tate. Get him used to being around other people, especially with his vest on.”
“I can do that.” Kent nodded and settled back in his seat as they headed for home. Neither of them said a word as they settled in for the drive. Once they arrived at the grocery store on the outskirts of town, Kent and Rita exchanged grins when Tate gave a put-out sigh when Kent put his vest on him.
“I know, buddy,” Kent said as he dressed him. “This is our last stop before we get home. Then you can eat and crash for the night.” The look on the puppy’s face was priceless. Both of them were laughing as they walked toward the store, and that was how Tim Vickers found them as he was leaving the store.
“What the fuck are you two doing here?” came an angry voice, and Kent looked up and scowled at the man speaking to them. He was unrecognizable with the bruises on his face. Both Kent and Rita ignored him as they skirted around him and headed toward the entrance to the store. Vickers stepped in front of Rita and threatened her.
“You’ll pay for what you did to me, bitch.”
“I didn’t do anything to you. I don’t know who you hired to do that to you, but it wasn’t me.”
“No, but you told him to do it,” Vickers said angrily as he pointed to Kent.
“I’d suggest you take a step back,” Kent said so coldly that Rita shivered, and Vickers actually took two steps away from them. “I didn’t do what you’re accusing us of. You know this. I don’t know what your end game is, but if you continue to toss around false accusations about the two of us, things won’t look good for you.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Nope, I’m stating facts,” Kent said, and took Rita’s elbow to walk away. At the same time, Vickers took her other one to stop them. Before Kent could say anything, a voice came from behind them.
“Is there a problem here?” Everyone turned and saw Sheriff Faulkner standing there. By this time, they had drawn a crowd of people around them.
“Sheriff, I want to press charges against these two.” Vickers pointed to Rita and Kent. He looked around and began posing for the crowd. “Not only did they do this to me…” He pointed to his face. “But he just threatened me.”
“No he didn’t,” someone from the crowd called out.
“What do I have to do to press charges for him beating me like this and putting me in the hospital?” Kent saw how angry Vickers was becoming and nudged Rita behind him. He handed her Tate’s leash and was ready to step in if needed.
As casual as he could, Jim Faulkner drawled out, “If you can’t pay your hospital bill, why don’t you go see Elroy and Judd Picket? You know, get the two thousand dollars back from them? The money you paid them to mess up your face.”
Kent and Rita exchanged shocked expressions and saw Vickers pale to the point that he bent over to try to suck in some air. Jim walked up to him, laid a hand on his shoulder, and once the other man was under control, he helped him stand, then slapped a pair of cuffs on him.
“Timothy Vickers, you’re under arrest for false accusations of assault.” He ended up duck walking Vickers to his car and had to fight with the man to put him in the back of his SUV. Once Tim was safely inside, he came back over to Rita and Kent. He made sure to be looking at his vehicle the entire time he talked to them.
“Sorry about that. I want you to know that I don’t believe either of you had anything to do with what Tim’s accusing you of. It was Judd’s wife, Maryann, that called me to tell me what she suspected. Her one phone call opened a whole can of worms that might turn into a shit show very soon. If Vickers lawyers up, he’ll be out before tomorrow. Keep an eye out for him. If what Maryann told me pans out, he’s dangerous and might come after the two of you for thwarting his efforts.”
“Can we asked what his plans are?” Rita asked, and unconsciously stepped closer to Kent. As she placed Tate’s leash in his hand, she held onto it for reassurance.
Jim looked around and saw the crowd had disbursed, but still leaned in to speak low to them.
“Maryann said Vickers joined your search and rescue to get a dog to train to be a bait dog for a fighting ring the three of them were going to start.”
“Shit,” Rita said, and turned her glare onto the SUV. She couldn’t see the man inside, but knew he was there. “Did he really pay Elroy and Judd to beat him up?”
“Yes, a thousand dollars each. They showed it to me, and I have pictures of their hands. Knuckles are bruised, cracked skin, and dried blood on them.”
“Are they talking?”
“They weren’t at first, but then Maryann learned why I was there. She spilled the beans. When Elroy tried to warn her, she only gave him a look and he backed down.” Jim chuckled again.“I heard her mention something about her grandma’s cast-iron pan.”
